Charges filed against man involved in East Millcreek standoff

Objects at the home of David Baker in East Millcreek, Monday, Sept. 24, 2012.

Ravell Call, Deseret News

Summary

The man involved in a bizarre 4½-hour standoff with police Sunday was charged Friday in 3rd District Court.

EAST MILLCREEK — The man involved in a bizarre 4½-hour standoff with police Sunday was charged Friday in 3rd District Court.

David Charles Baker, 47, faces a slew of charges, including aggravated assault, possession or use of a controlled substance, three counts of possession of a firearm by a restricted person, attempted theft by extortion and failure to respond to officer's signal to stop — all third-degree felonies.

Police responded Sunday afternoon to the area of 3100 E. Del Mar, where they observed Baker running back and forth in front of his home, wearing two ammunition bandoliers over his chest, according to charging documents. When officers approached him, Baker ran to a silver SUV and fled the scene.

Officers commanded Baker to stop multiple times and pursued him to his home at 3128 E. Del Mar, charging documents state.

While Baker was inside the home, officers spotted several suspicious items in the man's front yard that appeared to be homemade explosive devices, charges state.

Baker broke several windows from the inside of home during the standoff that followed and threw a briefcase and a chemical agent at the officers, according to court documents.

Officers also found several gas cans and propane tanks in the backyard, leading them to evacuate nearby homes and request SWAT assistance.

After more than four hours, the SWAT team forced its way through the front door of the residence and took Baker into custody, charges state.

After his arrest, officers obtained a search warrant and located three axes, a shotgun, a Smith & Wesson revolver, one trip wire capable of discharging a shotgun shell, a smoke grenade, a knife, a large curved sickle-like cutting instrument, two glass bongs, marijuana and cocaine, according to the charges.

Police also found a cooler in Baker's front year that appeared to be a homemade explosive device. They also saw gas cans, propane tanks and electrical cords strewn about the front yard.

Prior to police arriving at the scene, Baker told another neighbor that he was running for president and was a very important person, charges state. He proceeded to pull a sword out of his SUV and challenge the neighbor to strike him so he could use the sword against him.

Baker then went to another neighbor's house, threw a briefcase onto the patio and threatened to burn the house down unless they got 10 private jets by midnight, according to the charges. He also wrapped tape with "Baker" written on it around the neighbor's mailbox.

"(Baker's) acts … required a massive community response, consisting of the cooperation of at least three different police agencies," charges state, noting that "such a response was the desired outcome of his acts."

Baker also has been charged with possession of a controlled substance, a class B misdemeanor; and mail theft, a class A misdemeanor.